Hegar tops down ballots in late fundraising numbers

AUSTIN – Republican nominee for Comptroller Glenn Hegar netted more last-minute donations than any other down ballot candidate this year, raking in nearly $110,000 in four days.

Added to his already sizable campaign war chest, Hegar will have around $2.2 million in the bank if elected to become Texas’ next chief tax collector. Hegar, a state senator from Katy, is running against Houston accountant Mike Collier, who brought in $16,500 in late donations.

Collier had $239,000 in his campaign coffers on Oct. 27 after raising nearly half this amount in the last eight weeks, but he also was saddled with $450,000 in loans.

While Hegar far out-raised candidates in the three other down ballot races, it was Republican land commissioner nominee George P. Bush who goes into Election Day with the highest amount of available cash. In addition to the $3 million he had after the last reporting period, the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush brought in more than $25,000 in late donations.

This war chest will behoove Bush, who by all accounts is leading Democrat and former El Paso Mayor John Cook in the race, if and when he decides to run for a more high-profile office. Cook did not bring in any last-minute donations, and was left with $3,240 in cash-on-hand and $24,000 in loans heading into election day.

Republican Ryan Sitton, who is vying for a seat on the three-member Railroad Commission, raised $83,500 in the last several days including $25,000 from both Texas Tech University Regent Mickey Long and oil executive Javaid Anwar, both of Midland. The last-minute donations bring his total campaign war chest to around $533,000. Sitton’s Democratic opponent Steve Brown did not bring in any last minute contributions and had $2,646 left in his campaign coffers on Oct. 27 after raising $8,420 in the last eight-week reporting period.

Finally, it’s never been about money in the race for Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Democrat Jim Hogan, a small farmer and part-time insurance agent, has refused to take any contributions or campaign. Former state Rep. and rancher Sid Miller, his opponent, brought in $3,500 in the last several days for a grant cash-on-hand total of just over $70,000.

Read about the fundraising numbers for the top-ticket candidates below: